[Click here to download the factsheet]
What is energy cost-stability?
Energy cost stability refers to the ability of the power system to deliver electricity at predictable, consistent prices over time. Stable energy costs protect households and businesses from sudden spikes in utility bills caused by fuel price volatility, supply disruptions, or extreme weather events.
What drives cost-stability on utility bills?
Fuel costs can make up 80–90% of total electricity generation costs. That means when energy sources are tied to volatile global markets, price spikes quickly translate into higher utility bills. In contrast, resources with low and predictable operating costs, like nuclear, help stabilize electricity prices. That’s why a diverse energy mix is key to keeping costs steady for consumers.
How does nuclear energy support cost-stability?
Nuclear energy plays a key role in stabilizing electricity costs due to its unique cost structure. Fuel costs account for only about 20% of total nuclear generation costs, making it far less sensitive to global commodity price fluctuations. Once built, nuclear plants operate with low and predictable costs and can run continuously for decades, providing consistent, “always-on” power.
This reliability reduces dependence on more volatile energy sources and helps stabilize wholesale electricity markets during periods of high demand or fuel price spikes. With average generation costs of less than 3.1 cents per kilowatt-hour, nuclear energy offers a dependable, low-cost foundation for the grid.
By anchoring the energy mix with stable, long-term generation, nuclear energy helps deliver more predictable utility bills for consumers and greater certainty for energy planning.